Sen. Mike Halpin

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Directs the Secretary of State to grant a waiver of the lobbyist registration fee for any not-for-profit entity with an annual budget of less than $5,000,000 that is classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a waiver for any lobbyist that exclusively lobbies on behalf of such an entity.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of county commissioners of a county with a population of less than 100,000 may, by ordinance or resolution, dissolve a municipal board of election commissioners within that county and transfer its functions to the county clerk.

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the certification of service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and veteran-owned small businesses is an exclusive power and function of the State. Denies home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $26,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to reimburse public universities and community colleges for costs associated with the Illinois Veteran grant program and the Illinois National Guard and Naval Militia grant program. Effective July 1, 2024.

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include a worker who is not provided with a regular work schedule by an employer and is directly contracted with the employer to work on an as-needed basis for the express purpose of covering the shifts of full-time employees who are taking leave for vacations, illness, or for any other unforeseen reason.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it is unlawful for any person who is within 300 yards of an inhabited dwelling, to hunt with gun or dog, allow a dog to hunt, or discharge a firearm without first obtaining permission from the owner or tenant of the dwelling, except that a 100-yard restriction, rather than a 300-yard restriction, shall apply (i) while on the land of another person as an invitee with that person's permission, (ii) while trapping, hunting with dog and shotgun using shot shells only, hunting with shotgun using shot shells only, or providing outfitting services under a waterfowl outfitter permit, or (iii) while on licensed game breeding and hunting preserve areas, federally owned and managed lands, or Department owned, managed, leased, or controlled lands.

Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Creates a special instant scratch-off game for the benefit of the Lyme Disease Innovation Program, which helps to further education and awareness of Lyme disease in Illinois. Provides that the game shall commence on January 1, 2025 or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practical. Provides that funds raised from the purchase of the instant scratch-off game shall be deposited into the Lyme Disease Awareness Fund. Provides that the marketing of any other instant scratch-off game shall not be unreasonably diminished during the promotion and sale of the Lyme disease instant scratch-off. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates funds from the General Revenue Fund to the governing board of each public university for personal services and the related costs of increasing the wage rates of university personnel employed in positions covered under the State Universities Civil Service System, beyond the annual cost of living adjustment, adjustments provided for in collective bargaining agreements, and any increases required by the Minimum Wage Law, in a fair and equitable manner so as to close the pay gap between public university workers and other State employees. Effective July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $8 million from the state's general revenue fund to the State Board of Education to support YouthBuild Illinois. The funding is intended to provide grants for programs that help young people gain education and job training skills. The financial transfer becomes effective on July 1, 2024.

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Sets forth certain protections that must be provided to the parent or guardian of a child at the center of an abuse or neglect investigation whenever the Department of Children and Family Services refers a child to a board-certified child abuse pediatrician for a medical opinion. Provides that the board-certified child abuse pediatrician must explain to the parent or guardian of the child, whenever the pediatrician has direct contact with the child or the family of the child, that the pediatrician is completing the examination of the child at the request of the Department for the purpose of providing an opinion to the Department regarding whether the mechanism of injury is suspicious for child maltreatment. Provides that the parent or guardian of the child of the center of an investigation shall: (i) be informed of the referral and his or her right to request and receive a copy of the opinion; (ii) be notified that the parent or guardian of the child has the right to obtain, at his or her own expense, and submit to the Department a second medical opinion at any time; (iii) be informed that any second medical opinion submitted to the Department prior to the Department rendering a final determination in the investigation will be considered as inculpatory or exculpatory evidence; and (iv) be notified of the Department's time frames for the investigative process. Requires the Department to annually prepare and make available on the Department's Reports and Statistics webpage a report on the number of children or families referred by the Department to a board-certified child abuse pediatrician as part of an investigation of abuse or neglect by the Department. Sets forth the information that must be contained in the annual reports. Provides that the first report must be posted within 9 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act.